Keeping alive the Islamic tradition of scholarship, insight, and purification...one day at a time.

Friday, November 11, 2005

LESSON OF THE DAY 377

Ayahs of the Day:As for those who believe and do good works and humbly acquiesce to their Lord, they are the company of Paradise, where they will abide. The comparison of the two parties is like the blind and deaf compared to the seeing and hearing--are the two equal? So will you not take lesson? [11: 23,24]

Hadith of the Day: God and His angels, the dwellers of the heavens and of the earth, even an ant in its hole and fish (in the depths of the sea), invoke blessings on a scholar who teaches people goodness. [Tirmidhi]

Wise Quote of the Day:I never saw anyone as just as the world. As long as you pursue the world it will pursue you, but when you turn away from it and seek God, it will leave you alone and its glamour shall no longer fascinate you. [Al Hujwiri]

Guidance of the Day:Spiritual guidance on prayer: Scholars of Islamic spirituality mention that the only ones who are normally able to focus on Allah during prayer are those who regularly focus on Him outside of prayer. The root cause of not having presence of heart in prayer is a diseased heart that is attached to the world.

Imam Ghazali mentions in the ihya that "whoever loves something remembers it frequently." Someone who loves the things of the world will think about them during prayer. Someone who truly loves His Lord will find no space in his heart for the things of the world; this is the person who is able to have presence of heart during prayer.

Ultimately, the only way to achieve focus during prayer is to tread the spiritual path by purifying the heart from its fruits and adorning it with praiseworthy traits. One should engage in spiritual struggle (mujahada) by going against the desires of the ego during prayer and forcing it to focus on Allah. [Sunni Path]

Food for Thought: Begin each morning with a talk with God the Almighty, prayer is an armor do not go into your day without it.